“You have rights antecedent to all earthly governments;

. . . rights that cannot be repealed or restrained by human laws; rights derived from the Great Legislator of the Universe.”
— John Adams (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States (1797–1801).